Santos has produced flow rates at the higher end of pre-drill expectations from an initial flow test of the Caley reservoir from the Dorado-3 appraisal well.
The initial clean-up flow test of the Caley reservoir, in the Dorado field located in the Bedout Basin, offshore Western Australia, was conducted over a 12-hour period.
It achieved a maximum measured rate of approximately 11,100 barrels of oil per day and 21 million standard cubic feet of associated gas per day through a 68/64-inch choke.
The oil rate is one of the highest ever from a North West Shelf appraisal well test.
Caley production was constrained by surface equipment, indicating the reservoir has the capacity to flow at significantly higher rates.
Santos managing director and chief executive Kevin Gallagher said the test result was extremely positive.
“The test was conducted over only an 11-metre net section of the Caley from a total net reservoir interval of 53 metres, which demonstrates the high quality of the Caley reservoir,” Gallagher said.
“The results are very encouraging for development of the shallow-water Dorado field, with the test indicating very high potential flow rates of around 30,000 barrels per day from each single production well in the Caley reservoir. This positive result represents a significant step in progressing Dorado as one of Santos’ most exciting new development projects.”
The Caley flow test was the second of two for the Dorado field, following the Baxter test late last month which confirmed excellent productivity and fluid quality.
Together, these results indicate potential for field production flow rates at the higher end of expectations.
Santos operates Dorado-3 with 80 per cent interest, while Carnarvon Petroleum holds the balance.
It is located in Commonwealth waters approximately 160 kilometres north of Port Hedland and one kilometre north-west of the Dorado-1 discovery, made in July last year.
Once operations are completed, the well will be plugged and abandoned as planned, thereby concluding Santos’ 2019 offshore drilling program.